Contents

About the Nomicon

Randy Cunningham receives the Nomicon in the first episode of the series, and using what he learns from it throughout the show, he helps keep Norrisville and the world safe from the forces of evil. Whenever Randy (or any Ninja) needs help or information about something, he can ask the NinjaNomicon. To answer questions, the Nomicon communicates telepathically to the Ninja whenever it isn't opened. However, those who look into its pages leave their physical bodies in a trance-like state while their minds enter the book; this process is known as "shloomping." There's a running gag in the series that whenever Randy goes into the Nomicon, he will fall to the ground and sometimes have the Nomicon hit his head.

It is hinted time and time again that the Nomicon may have a mind of its own. In "The Tale of the Golden Doctor's Note" when Randy "dissed" it, the book glowed and gave off a roar-like sound in response to him. And in "Viva El Nomicon," when Randy was acting too confident in himself, the Nomicon locked itself up until he learned his lesson. It also spoke to Mac Antfee as shown in a flashback to Randy in "Ninja Camp."

The Nomicon may also have the power of Precognition. This is proven that the book seems to know in advance what kind of situation Randy is about to get into, and gives lessons which act as either warning and/or advice for that exact situation. For example, in "Stanks Like Teen Spirit," it warned Randy beforehand that his enemies were up to something, but Randy didn't take it to heart, and because of it, he woke up to find a lot of stanked monsters.

Pages of the first ninja's memories in the Nomicon.

The Nomicon can also only be opened by the one who is chosen to be the Ninja. This was demonstrated in "Raiders of the Last Nomicon," when Viceroy, McFist, and even the Sorcerer attempted to open it with no success, although it's implied the Sorcerer's magic of red stank would have succeeded if Randy hadn't interfered. Howard failed to open it as well in "The Ninja Identity." However, it seems it can choose who can and cannot open it. Bucky Hensletter opened it in "Raiders of the Lost Nomicon" since he claimed it had "Non-school board approved ideas in it," and it also refused to open for Randy in "Viva El Nomicon."

In "Shloomp! There It Is!," once Howard notices that something is up with Randy (who is actually NomiRandy), he attempts to get into the Nomicon to figure out what happened to the real Randy. He threats the Nomicon countless times but is unable to open it until he throws it at a garbage can causing it to fly back at him, open, freeing the real Randy inside. When Randy escapes he ends up in Howard's body instead of his own. This implies that the mind of whoever enters the Nomicon does in fact get separated from their original physical body. Randy then goes to defeat NomiRandy in Howard's body, before returning himself to his own body, Howard into his, and NomiRandy back into the Nomicon, making things normal again.

While the Nomicon often leads Randy to the pages where it feels Randy needs to go, the NinjaNomicon doesn't seem to have the ability to deny him whenever Randy is particularly determined to go somewhere specefic. Randy has on several occasions forced his way into the House of Forbidden Knowledge. Another such occasion is when Randy, despite the Nomicon's resistance, learned the Ultimate Lesson too early.

It's revealed in "The Ninja Supremacy," upon the Ninja's time ending, they take the Ultimate Lesson, where their minds are wiped and the Nomicon absorbs all their experiences so it can be passed on to the next Ninja.

Places within the Nomicon

There is traditional places and calm nature for Randy's training like waterfalls, forests and sometimes dojos. Important messages are always hidden in a dragon's mouth or the dragon would bring Randy to the lesson.

Other places are buildings with forbidden knowledge and an open space to practice throwing ninja balls. Ninja knowledge is sometimes told by a shogun.

This persona is also shown in the lesson "What is wild should not be caged" in the episode "McFreaks."

Many of the arts inside the Nomicon's lessons and scenery, seem to be references or inspired by real art pieces. Such as the skeleton in the lessons "Believe in the weapon that is in the suit" and, "A ninja must never endanger the innocent but must always defend the defenseless," is alike to the skeleton in the piece Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The octopus from the lesson "When a ninja does wrong, he must own up to his mistakes," also resembles octopuses from other Kuniyoshi works. Other parts of the Nomicon's art resembles doodles and graffiti like were scribbled down.

Lessons

"Centuries ago, a great war was waged between good and evil, between Ninja and Sorcerer, too powerful to destroy. The Dark One was locked deep underground, his prison sealed with a sacred stone. In the darkness he waits, wreaking havoc, possessing the vulnerable using that which they hold most dear, amassing power from chaos. Once he gains enough power, he will escape and darkness will reign. Preventing this is the sacred duty of the Ninja." - So U Think U Can Stank

"A ninja must know when winning is losing and losing is winning." - Wienerman Up

"Centuries ago, a great battle was fought between the ninja and an evil bird demon; the Tengu. The demon was too strong to defeat until a ninja found the source of the Tengu's great power. The demon feathers infused the ninja suit with mysterious powers. Upon defeating the Tengu, the ninja imprisoned it in a sacred stone. It can only be released by the hand of ninja. The Tengu and the Ninja are forever linked, their strengths are shared." - Evil Spirit Week

"The art of disguise: A master can alter his physical appearance by focusing on his ninja energy, but be warned, lose focus and the energy will master the ninja." - Secret Stache

"Stay grounded, do not waver. The dirt itself will pay you a favor. To stop your foes and hold them back. Harness the soil for an earth attack." and "Words can be more powerful than the sword." - Hiphopocalypse Now

"The questions of the present can be answered by the past." and Mac Antfee's firing - Ninja Camp

"And so it was that the First Ninja cast the Sorcerer into a bottomless pit, and sealed it with the Eye of Eternity. The Ninja locked the stone with a magic key. Knowing the key was too dangerous to possess, the Ninja hid it away. Then every one hundred years the key reveals its resting place in hopes of being found. That time is now." and "The Sorcerer Key must be found immediately. The sunlight and the stone will work together to guide you." - Randy Cunningham and the Sorcerer's Key

"And so it was moments before his imprisonment, the Sorcerer's mighty orbs were flung to the four corners of Norrisville. For 800 years, the evil orbs lay dormant until [Booray finds one.] The spheres contain a terrible darkness, a source of unlimited power." - Welcome Back Catfish

"In ancient times, a poor and wretched peddler stumbled upon a great evil. Weak of will and tempted by the awesome power, he gave himself to the darkness, and the Sorcerer came to be." - Julian's Birthday Surprise

"Moments before his imprisonment, the Sorcerer's mighty orbs were flung to the four corners of Norrisville. The evil within corrupted all. I recovered one and tasked a noble warrior with the sacred duty of guarding it from the Sorcerer. Every four years, the Ninja must quest to the enchanted temple and replenish the Noble One's supplies." - Aplopalypse Now